Volume-XII, Special Issue, April 2026 |
নৈতিক জীবন-দর্শনে অষ্টাঙ্গযোগ : অপরিহার্যতা ও প্রয়োগ মহুয়া চৌধুরী, গবেষক, কাজী নজরুল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়, দর্শন বিভাগ, আসানসোল, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ভারত |
Received: 05.04.2026 | Accepted: 07.04.2026 | Published Online: 10.04.2026 | Page No: 154-160 | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.12.issue.specialW.278 | |||||||
Ashtanga Yoga in Ethical Philosophy: Necessity and Application Mohua Chowdhury, Research Scholar, Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol, West Bengal, India | ||
ABSTRACT | ||
Human life recognizes the necessity of ethics for its holistic development. In all Indian scriptural discussions, moral conduct is considered as a fundamental prerequisite. Not only in the Vedic literature, but also in various schools of Indian philosophy, thinkers have discussed—each from their own perspective—how human beings can lead a healthy life and progress toward the attainment of the highest goals (puruṣārthas). From these discussions, their respective ethical theories have emerged. Although sāṃkhya and Yoga are considered parallel systems, however, each one distinguished by its own unique excellence. Broadly speaking, sāṃkhya is recognized as the path of theoretical analysis, while Yoga is regarded as the path of practical discipline. This paper is based on the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali and examines the ethical dimensions inherent in Aṣṭāṅga Yoga. It highlights how Aṣṭāṅga Yoga contributes to the formation of both individual and social ethics. Also it shows how it supports a disciplined, purified and elevated way of life. It further explains how an individual, through the practice of each stage of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga, can achieve self-purification and moral excellence. The paper also emphasizes the relevance and necessity of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga in addressing the moral decline in contemporary society. It explores how, through its application we can cultivate a peaceful ethical life both individually and socially. Ultimately, the study argues that Aṣṭāṅga Yoga is not merely a practice for physical and mental well-being, but a comprehensive path of lifelong ethical and spiritual development- a philosophy of complete moral living. | ||
Keywords: Ethics, Aṣṭāṅga yoga, Moral Discipline, Self-purification, Spiritual Development |